The Replacement

The Replacement is a Young Adult novel by Brenna Yovanoff about a misfit teen who only wants to be normal.

Mackie is a special sort of outcast: The kind that can't enter consecrated ground or tolerate being around iron. He lives in a town where mothers hang steel over cribs to protect their babies and where quartz buried in their backyard will cause the yard to stay green longer in the fall. The folks of Gentry know that Mackie is different but as long as he pretends to be normal, they are more than happy to pretend along with him.

Mackie can no longer pretend to be normal when a stranger from beneath the slag heap tells him that he's dying -- and that he knows someone who can help. Life becomes even more complicated when Mackie's schoolmate, Tate, experiences the death of her sister. However, Tate insists that it wasn't her sister that died, but a lookalike. Tate also starts to demand answers from Mackie, but all Mackie wants is to blend in.

Life takes an unexpected twist when Mackie starts to hang out with the Morrigan and feels at home among the dead that no one else wanted. In the process, he learns more about his heritage and refuses to choose between the humans that raised him and the Fae who can keep him alive. To make matters worse, Mackie discovers that not only is Tate's sister still alive, but that she is scheduled to be sacrificed for the prosperity of Gentry if Mackie doesn't step in.

I was initially drawn to this book because of the creepy cover; more specifically, why you would need to dangle sharp, metal objects over a baby carriage. I was also fascinated by the words chosen to describe this book: eerie, haunting, and beautiful. When I read the back, I was hooked. I love Fae stories and it isn't very often that changelings enter the story, let alone be the main character.

The author's interpretation of the replacements, the ritual sacrifices, and how they were related was fascinating. Even Gentry and its involvement with the Fae, along with its gradual decline into ruin, creates an interesting history for a town that once mined iron.

I think one of the main themes in this book is tolerance versus prejudice, and about how familial love and acceptance can shape who you become, regardless of the circumstances of your birth. The friendships in this book essentially state the same thing.

In terms of character development, I think only Mackie changed. He finally accepted himself as a whole rather than trying to hide his true nature from those closest to himself. By pretending to be wholly human, he was literally killing himself, and it wasn't until his sister took a chance on him that he felt better.

The only part of this book that I was confused by was the semi-naked make out scene. I didn't think it fit the story or the characters. Mackie read into it as her way of saying thanks, but there was nothing prior to that to indicate that Tate was into giving sexual favours for information, unless I completely missed something before that.

I would highly recommend this book. I found that Brenna asked questions that she answered later, which made for an informative read. While the ending seemed a little dull compared to the build up, it also fit the self-discovery theme of the story. I kept expecting the book to turn creepy, but it never did. Even the spookier characters were written so the reader would feel sympathetic to the character. The only word I can think of to describe this book is fascinating and it definitely lived up to my expectations.

Changes!

So, here's the thing: I want to streamline this blog so that it will be easier to follow story lines, especially since many of my posts are about books in a series. I'm just not sure how to do that. And I've also read a couple books now that are part a couple series already blogged about, so now I'm behind in my posts.

I want to keep updating, but I need to think about how I want this blog to read so it may take a while before I get back to it.

The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy

It's been a while since I've blogged about a book and I feel a little guilty.  One, it isn't like I have stopped reading - quite the opposite! - but more because I haven't felt like blogging.  Two, it's because I have another blog that keeps me more active (and interested).  Thirdly, since I'm no longer working, I've been idling away my time with fluff romance books that I'm a little embarrassed to admit to reading.  And sometimes the time and thought processes that go into a book review, I feel, just aren't worth my time if I'm reading something that isn't provoking any actual thoughts.

That being said, I just finished a book that not only made me laugh, a lot, but made me also want to pass on the advice I learned.  Recommended by my very good friend, The Girlfriends' Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine is hilarious.  It's a no-nonsense (and entirely nonmedical) approach to pregnancy; more like having a coffee date with your best friends and chatting about their experiences and what they learned while pregnant.  It is forthright and non-judgemental while still being informative.  And entirely non-PC!  She tells you that what you're feeling is normal, while giving you examples from her own pregnancies or that of her friends, and if it isn't, she suggests heading to your nearest OB to get it checked out.  Covering everything from infertility and miscarriages to delivery and life after pregnancy, Vicki's commentary is funny, frank, and sometimes gory, in her desire to cover all the bases. 

From a Canadian perspective on an American pregnancy book, the only differences would be the medical practices and tests.  Otherwise, giving birth is giving birth, with all the terror and confusion included, regardless of which country you call home.  One of the things I admired most was her ability to cover the little aspects of pregnancy as well as the embarrassing ones.  And the way she tells her stories makes you believe you're sitting right there hearing them!

I highly recommend this book - but only if you're already pregnant or have already had children.  Otherwise, the graphic nature of this book may compel you to decide against ever having children of your own.  And be warned if you are pregnant: my hormones caused me to laugh hysterically and then promptly bawl my eyes out.

Specials

The third book in his trilogy, Scott Westerfield continues Tally's story in Specials.

As predicted, Tally has been turned into a Special; however, as one of Shay's Cutters, she's a special Special.  As the name suggests, the Cutters use self-mutilation as a way to stay "icy".  Tally is unsatisfied as a Cutter since Zane is not a part of their group.  Finding him crippled, Tally and Shay decide that if he escapes from New Pretty Town that Dr. Cable will have to make him Special.  And to help him, they break into the Armory to find a cutting tool that will remove the tracking collar he has around his neck.  Unfortunately, when they were discovered by the guard, Shay released nanos that ended up eating through the building, destroying it in the process.

After releasing Zane, Tally follows the Crims at a distance, staying undercover and helping them when they are nearly discovered.  At the pickup point, Tally stows onboard and is taken to another City which has a more liberal point of view than the one Tally grew up in.  For example, there are no standards for cosmetic surgery, so Tally is able to hide out in the open with her Special face.  While there, she finds Fausto, a kidnapped Cutter that Shay had set out to find.  However, he attempts to make Tally un-Special; in the escape, Tally winds up in a hospital where she is deemed a deadly weapon and is scheduled to be de-Specialized. 

When Shay shows up to free Shay from the operation, she explains how Dr. Cable has declared war on the City, since she doesn't believe that the Crims or Smokies could have destroyed the Armory.  The aftermath of Dr. Cable's revenge has left Zane brain-dead and Tally spends the next 3 days flying back to the Special Headquarters to turn herself in.  Meeting David in the Ruins has strengthened her resolve to make things right, and he also gives her an antidote in case she changes her mind about being Special.  Reaching HQ, Tally is tricked and trapped; but manages to slip Dr. Cable the antidote in the process.  Due to her changed perspective, Dr. Cable ends up ruining her own position in the war and all of the Specials are de-Specialized.  Just before Tally's operation, Dr. Cable saves her from the procedure and Tally runs off to the Ruins to meet up with David again.

In the end, all of Tally's friends become allies of the new movement; however, Tally is determined to keep them from becoming like the Rusties and has declared herself (and David) to be the enemy of their cause.

I liked the book and I think Tally matured in this story.  And I liked how it ended, with Tally setting herself up as the antagonist.  I know there's another story, Extras, which I'm assuming ties up the story, although the author could have let it end there. 

The next story that I'm reading is Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut as part of the Banned Book Club. 

Pretties

Yay!  Book two of the Uglies trilogy, Pretties, by Scott Westerfield continues the story of Tally Youngblood after she turned pretty.  After her operation, Tally turned into a fluffy pretty whose biggest worries were what to wear to the next party - with a hangover.  With the help of Shay and Peris, Tally is voted into the hippest clique in New Pretty Town, the Crims, and her life is complete!  On the same night, Croy comes to Tally and leaves a "bubbly riddle" for Tally and her friend, Zane.

Discovering a note written from herself, Tally splits the pills with Zane that will cure her of the lesions implanted in her brain.  Their trick results in Tally and Zane having to wear metal cuffs that could potentially eavesdrop on their conversations; however, this doesn't deter them from finding new ways to stay bubbly.  Zane and Tally have decided to run away and they use all the members of their clique to create a diversion so they can head out to New Smoke.  On the way, Peris chickens out and Tally jumps from an incredible height to a river to avoid being recaptured by the Specials.  After her crash landing, Tally finds herself on a reservation with pre-Rusty tribes, built for the sole purpose of studying human nature such as revenge.  So, what does Tally do?  Steal a hovercar, of course!   When Tally finally makes it to the ruins, she discovers that she is all alone, except for David - someone that she had forgotten about.

Special Circumstances placed a tracker on Zane and followed the signal to New Smoke.  They also brought their newest Special, Shay.  And I think that in the next book Tally will be one of them.

I still really liked this book, but Tally has a huge complex where she believes that everything is her fault.  I'm hoping that she learns to forgive herself in the next book.  I was a little annoyed when Tally was reunited with David and wasn't sure what to do; however, I feel like it was taken care of appropriately at the end of the book and I was incredibly thankful that it ended in this story.  Having just read The Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, which was 3 books of one girl having to decide between 2 boys, I was so glad when Tally made a quick decision.

This book wasn't as scientifically driven as the last, but it was anthropologically interesting with the study of human nature on the reserve.  I find it fascinating to read about the Rusties: a society 300 years ago that pretty much describes our current culture and state of mind.  It makes you wonder if the oil plague, or something similar, will happen and how will that shape the future? 

It was a little annoying when the characters spoke fluent pretty, but it made the difference between being pretty-minded and bubbly more obvious.  I am really excited for the next book though, since I am convinced that Tally will be turned into one of the Specials.  I'm also curious as to whether or not Shay is as crazy as she lets on.  And off I go to read the next story, Specials!

Uglies

The first book in a trilogy, Scott Westerfield introduces us to the concept of a world where everyone is pretty.  Before they are surgically altered at the age of 16, teenagers start out as an ugly; or, in other words, normal.  Gawky, acne-prone and all the other things that make being a teenager horrible are magically erased when you turn.

Enter Tally Youngblood, a teen who has looked forward to being pretty since she was little.  Her best friend, Peris, has already turned and a disastrous undercover trip to New Prettytown has her missing him even more.  On her way back to Uglyville, Tally meets Shay, another ugly who also shares the same birthday as Tally.  However, Shay has a secret: she doesn't want to be pretty.  Instead, she wants to escape to the Smoke, a secret community that lives off the land and where you get to keep your face.  Shay invites Tally to come along, but Tally wants to become a pretty face and stays.  Unfortunately, Special Circumstances has heard of the escapees and has given Tally an ultimatum: infiltrate the Smoke and give them up or Tally will never be pretty.

Once Tally has arrived, she discovers that she enjoys the hard work and honest living of the Smoke.  She especially likes David, a man who has never lived in the city.  And he likes her.  In a fit of defiance, Tally destroys the pendant that would've allowed her to contact Special Circumstances.  However, the destruction actually calls them and they capture everyone present.  Tally manages to escape and finds David in a tunnel.  Together they decide that they're going to sneak back to the city and rescue everyone.

Breaking into Special Circumstances actually isn't as hard as they thought; but they're too late: Shay is already pretty.  They rescue her anyway and create a new Smoke in the ruins outside the city.  When David's mom discovers a cure for the lesions implanted in a new pretty's head, Tally tries to convince Shay to take the pills.  Shay refuses, so Tally decides to turn herself in, thus giving a willing subject to test the pills.

I really, really liked this story!  The biology and evolution behind becoming a pretty is fascinating; and the concept behind why and how being a pretty made the world a better place is interesting.  In this dystopian society, the population is brainwashed into believing their lives are better when they're pretty.  Children purposefully (and equally) give nicknames to their cohorts that draw attention to their faults; for example, Squint, Nose and Skinny.  Even the symmetry behind being a pretty is about equality; pretties around the world have the same standard of beauty.

This future world also talks about the Rusties: a past civilization who built the cities, tore down the trees and polluted the air and water.  A bacteria that affected the oil caused a plague that devastated their world.  In the era of the pretties, renewable resources and green power have replaced oil and gas power.

The scientific concepts behind this book has made this story absolutely fascinating!  I highly recommend it if you have a thing for biology, like I do, as well as an interest in dystopia.  So, really, this book is pure perfection for someone like me.  I also have the next story, Pretties, which I'll start reading as soon as I'm finished typing this review.

Mockingjay

Mockingjay!  The long-awaited finale to Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games trilogy!

And....!

I didn't love it.

Katniss Everdeen returns as the rebel's icon: the Mockingjay.  In an effort to overthrow the Capitol, the rebels have banded together to take back Panem, district by district.  Katniss' only request is that she herself wants to be the one to kill Snow.  Peeta, Katniss' fake lover, was captured at the end of the last book, and it is evident in this book that he has been tortured.  In a desperate rescue attempt, he is saved but his mind has been hijacked and perceives Katniss as a threat and tries to kill her. 

In theory, the storyline is good, but Katniss herself is angsty as she still waffles between Peeta and Gale.  And to make matters worse, both guys are aware of her struggles;  they even come to an agreement that she will choose the guy that she can't survive without.  Katniss also strikes me as sulky for most of the book; while others are going about their business (going to classes, etc), Katniss wanders off and does what she pleases, when she pleases.  It isn't until near the end of the book that she accepts authority, but it is still for her own purposes: to sneak off and kill Snow.  Katniss also spends a large majority of the book in the infirmary, so it seems like much of the story is happening behind the scenes.  And it seems like Katniss doesn't care.

I also found the writing style to be jarring.  I don't know the proper term, but it is written in first person present tense; meaning that it is written as it happens.  However, I didn't like that style and I'm surprised I didn't notice it in the other books.

Even the ending was anticlimatic: Katniss assassinated the wrong person (the correct person in her thinking) and then tried to kill herself with a poison pill.  In the end she was exiled back to District 12.  There's an epilogue included as well: a 20 year look into the future.  Which would've been fine if it wasn't written in the present tense. 

Like I said, I was disappointed by the story.  Maybe I'll re-read it in the future, this time with the books back-to-back (instead of reading the third book several months later) to see if it makes a difference. When I read them before, I really enjoyed the series, so I'm rather surprised that I didn't care for this one.

So, read it if you want.  And let me know what you think.

Fragile Eternity

Written by Melissa Marr, Fragile Eternity is book 3 in the Wicked Lovely series.

This book follows Seth as he struggles to deal with his humanity in a circle of immortals - including his girlfriend.  On his quest to become Faerie, Seth meets the reclusive Sorcha, Queen of the High Court, and strikes a deal: one month a year in Faerie to become one.  Unbeknownst to him, one day in Faerie is 6 in the real world.  When he finally serves his month, 6 have passed and Aislinn has turned to Keenan to give their Summer Court a true queen to his king.

I did not like this book at all.  While the bits about the High Court and his deal with Sorcha were fine, the angsty love triangle/rectangle was a little much.  Keenan was still trying to win over Aislinn, and when that didn't work, he stuck it out with Donia.  However, when Seth went missing, he immediately dumped Donia to be at Aislinn's side.  Aislinn starts to feel strongly about Keenan with the approach of summer, so instead of being open with Seth, she hides it from him.  Seth, for his part, knows that something is up with Aislinn and decides to completely change to be with her.

Those elements are wrong on so many levels.  I can forgive Aislinn and Seth since they're young and dumb, but Keenan is 900 years old.  You'd think that having to back off for 100 years-ish, would be super easy, especially now that his powers are unbound.  Instead, he actively tries to seduce Aislinn and then when Seth is gone, he jumps at the chance to soothe her.  His only saving grace is that when she offers her body, he turns her down.  

Aislinn's behaviour at Seth's disappearance is pathetic.  She becomes reclusive, to the point of shutting out her grandmother and close friends, and she leans heavily on Keenan - who I believe she had no right to demand that kind of attention after turning him down so often.  She even offered to sleep with him to make herself feel better!

And Seth?  Seriously?  He seemed to be the only character who was completely satisfied with who he was.  Until he got it in his head that he needed to be with Aislinn forever and went against everyone's wishes to do it.  I believe that compromise is necessary in a relationship; but changing who and what you are to be with someone?  On top of that, Seth has a Persephone-esque contract: 6 months in Faerie and 6 months with Aislinn.  As much as I like happy endings, I almost hope this ruins their relationship.  I think it would be too tidy to have Keenan and Donia together, as well as Aislinn and Seth.

I guess I'll find out eventually.  The next book, Radiant Shadows, is available now.  I, however, am going to read Mockingjay next, book 3 of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins!!!

Magic Bleeds

Magic Bleeds - book 4 of the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews - explored Kate's relationships with various people and groups in the different aspects of her life. 

For familial relationships, Kate meets her crazy aunt Erra - and has to stop her from killing everyone Kate has ever loved.  Going against every lesson taught her by Voron, Kate has finally accepted others in to her life and in order to save her friends, Kate is willing to sacrifice herself.  Even disposing of her aunt could draw unwanted attention from her father and Kate doesn't believe herself strong enough for that confrontation yet (and really, Ilona Andrews is contracted until book 7 so it can't end now!).

Regarding romantic relationships, Kate and Curran have finally hooked up.  However, due to their stubborn personalities - plus the shapeshifter politics - has caused huge headaches and huge compromises for both parties.  Kate has officially chosen Curran, and his Pack, over The Order, and as Curran's mate, she is now the alpha of all alphas.  Changing her status within the Pack caused a huge upheaval, especially when Curran was in the coma; however, Kate was determined to prove herself worthy - against the better judgement of her advisors!

Kate's friendship with her best friend Andrea is now strained, since Kate was free to quit The Order when the Pack needed her.  As an estranged beastkin who could have been killed in her youth by other shapeshifters, Andrea feels more loyal to The Order.  Even the prejudices of Moynohan aren't enough to dissuade Andrea's faith in the core belief of The Order.

There was an interesting take on biblical stories as well, keeping with the author's theme of mythology.  The author chose to use the story of Esau and Jacob, with Esau being the first vampire created by Roland.  Another take was on Samson; in this version Samson being one of Erra's crazy offspring - who was growing out his hair because he was balding.

This book was a good read.  It wasn't as action packed as the others and Kate's heartache coloured her decisions; however, it was nice to see Kate act more human for a change - it's hard to relate to a character who feels no fear and doesn't have the same emotions as everyone else.  I definitely think it's a shame that I'm going to have to wait 8-9 months before I can read the next book.  I also do look forward to reading more about Kate's world, her friends and even her family.

Ink Exchange

Melissa Marr is an amazing writer with a soft spot for tattoos - this affection is apparent in her book Ink Exchange, book 2 in the Wicked Lovely young adult series.

This book follows Leslie, Aislinn's best friend, who goes in for a tattoo and ends up as an energy conduit to help feed the Dark Court.  Coddled in the Dark Court, Leslie's spirit starts to wither and she starts to tend towards destructive behaviours (ie, starting fights) just for a fleeting glimpse of any emotion, even pain.  Only the combined power of Aislinn and Donia (the Summer and Winter Queens, respectively) can free Leslie since she desperately wishes to belong to a world that does not include the faeries.

What struck me the most about this book was the spirituality placed on the tattoos.  To Leslie, a tattoo was the one thing that she had control of and the inking was her way to reclaim her body.  Looking at the process of picking a design and getting it etched permanently onto one's body was fascinating from the perspective of someone who has never gotten a tattoo (but who really wants one!).  The machinery, the inks, the whole process was interesting and was told so vividly that for someone with a curiousity like mine, it was greatly appreciated!  And at the end of the story, Leslie comes to realization, with a maturity that is not too common, that it was her own actions and choices that defined her and changed her situation - not the tattoo itself.

I was also greatly surprised when at the end of the story Leslie opted out of the Faery world and out of the lives of Irial and Niall.  While I believed that Leslie would have to make a hard choice at the end, I honestly believed that it would be a choice between the guys - but not choosing to leave them both.  Again, that shows a maturity not normally found in books for young adults.

Overall, I'm highly impressed by the character of Leslie in this book: on the outside she doesn't seem like such a wonderful person, but she's a survivor and her story is one of survival.  I would definitely recommend this story to others - if you like stories involving faeries, even better!  I already know the next story follows Niall and his leadership in the Dark Court but I am still looking forward to reading about it!

Magic Strikes

Be still my heart!

I am absolutely in love with this series.  In book 3, Magic Strikes, Ilona Andrews returns us to Kate Daniels' alternate Atlanta, and she has done a remarkable job of including many more styles of mythical creatures from other cultures, such as Viking, Hindu, Japanese and Chinese.

When Derek returns on the verge of death from a secret mission involving a fighting group called The Reapers, Kate takes a personal affront to it and demands vengence.  In order to get her revenge, she must fight in an underground tournament called The Midnight Games - a pasttime which Curran has strictly forbidden all shapeshifters from becoming involved in.  When Kate and Jim investigate The Reapers, they discover that they are rakshasas - born warriors who are masters of illusion and have no problem eating human flesh.  The rakshasa have also teamed up with Roland to destroy The Pack, with the aid of Hugh d'Ambray, past apprentice of Kate's dad.

Now Kate has the double worry of keeping her friends alive in the ring as well as keeping her identity a secret from Hugh - and by extension, Roland.

Kate is remarkable.  She cares so much about her friends that she is willing to impale herself on a sword to save her friends and destroy her enemies.  When Derek finally pulls through, Kate is so emotional that she dry heaves with relief.  She is also willing to step in to a ring and potentially face discovery, just so her friends don't have to fight short-handed.

Kate is reckless, impulsive and has authority issues; but she is also funny, protective and willing to put on airs so her ward will no longer be alienated at school.  She also has a cool head - when she stops to use it.  Despite the electricity flowing between her and Curran, she refuses to give, since she is convinced that Curran only wants her because she refused him.  And I love that aspect.  Eventually she'll give in, but she's making him work hard for it and it's fun to see her deny any sort of mutual attraction - even to herself.

I can't wait to read Magic Bleeds, and see what sort of fun Ilona will come up with next! 

Magic Burns

I've decided to catch up on this series (I have books 1-4) before reading any new ones.  If I don't catch up, I may never get around to finishing it.  Plus you lose the flow of the story and characters and then you start to wonder which name belongs to which person.  And I'm especially glad I continued since the second book was laden with mythology, both Greek and Celtic, a subject that I absolutely adore.  If I thought it would be a viable job option, I would study mythology for a living.  Honestly.

Magic Burns is book 2 in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

In Kate's world, technology and magic are at war for complete supremacy, with magic slowly winning.  According to Kate, "[t]heory said that magic and tech used to coexist in a balance.  Like the pendulum of a grandfather clock that barely moved, if at all.  But then came the Age of Man, and men are made of progress.  They overdeveloped magic, pushing the pendulum farther and farther to one side until it came crashing down and started swinging back and forth, bringing with it tech waves.  And then in turn, technology oversaturated the world, helped once again by pesky Man, and the pendulum swung again, to the side of magic this time" (p 16).  Every seven years a magical flare arrives, where magic and tech shift more frequently, with the magic building up each time, and never truly going away.  And right now they're leading up to a flare.

This book you learn more about Kate's magic: Julie, an orphan that Kate takes under her wing is a human m-scanner: a sensate.  She can determine the magic used by its colour.  She is also able to blend into the magic so it doesn't sense her; however, when under attack, Julie finds Kate's magic too alien to blend with.  It is also impossible for Kate to ever be infected with the Lyc-V (lycanthrope virus) or the vampire bacterium. 

The story explains how Kate's mom sacrificed herself so that Kate and her father may survive.  And how Kate's father (who is actually not her birth father) was a warlord by the name of Voron (meaning 'raven') and how he left it behind for Kate.

Mostly, the story focuses on mythology: first Greek, with the sightings of the Stymphalian birds and then on to Celtic myths; more specifically on Morrigan, her son Morfran and their battles with the Fomorian.  Since, y'know, every deity needs a foe to fight.  There's even an triumvirate Oracle to consult, which lives in the belly of a giant tortoise. 

This book was extra fun because of the mythology.  It has made me want to read up on Celtic myths, as well as Merlin and King Arthur, since Morrigan and Morfran are part of the stories.  Due to the magic waxing on and becoming more powerful, I expect the next book to contain even more mythos!  I also do expect something to happen between Kate and Curran.  My favourite part of the story was right at the end when he leaned in for a kiss, then said "psych" and walked off.

I find Kate and her many boys interesting.  Normally it annoys me when all the guys want to get into the pants of the main female; however, I think Kate's attitude towards it is refreshing.  She knows that Saiman only wants her because she said "no" and that Bran is only doing it because she's female.  And she doesn't think of them that way.  The way she looks at Curran now makes me laugh because she is convinced that the only reason why she finds him sexy is because she needs to get laid; however, to listen to her talk to Julie about sex, it makes me think that there's more to Kate than she lets on.  While she definitely isn't waiting for marriage before having sex, I think that she does place more importance on it than just a one-night stand.  And I find it refreshing.

Magic Bites

Magic Bites is book 1 in the Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.

In this urban fantasy series, magic is contantly competing with technology for supremacy in the world.  As it fluctuates back and forth, the people of the world have adapted to both by having access to both magical and nonmagical items: for example, feylanterns when magic is in control and electrical lights when tech is in.  However, it seems like magic is currently in the lead, since Kate comments on how "[f]ew people owned cars that ran during tech.  There was no need to invest in them, since it was plain that magic was gaining the upper hand" (page 90).

Magic also brought back the creatures of legends: vampires and shapeshifters.  Part of a group called The People, the vampires were piloted by necromancers - or necronavigators - who would use them to spy on others from the safety of their office.  The necronavigators would keep the vampire like a pet, feeding and raising them, but the mindlink between them would prevent the vampire from mindlessly destroying everything in its path during bloodlust.

The Pack, the faction of shapeshifters, were led by Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, who ruled over all the different alphas and their small groups.  He was, of course, a lion.  Most of these creatures were were-something (ie, werewolf, werecat, etc) which were creatures born human who could turn into an animal.  However, there were also some creatures who were born animal and could shift into a human.  Corwin was one such animal, a cat-were.

Another major player in this world is The Order: known as The Order of Knights of Merciful Aid.  These people were trained and devoted to the destruction of harmful beings to humanity; unfortunately, they were also a form of justice unto their own.  If enlisted, they would destroy anything that threatened humanity - even if it was your elderly aunt who would turn in to a harpy and sit in your tree. 

Due to the fanatical nature of The Order, Kate dropped out before she became a full-fledged member.  It was her failure to follow in the footsteps of her guardian that caused the rift between her and Greg.  Armed with her magical saber, Slayer, she is determined to find out who killed Greg, even if it means going back to The Order.

During the investigation, many interesting clues come out as to what Kate actually is.  Her connection with the undead and being able to cross a blood ward to destroy a powerful vampire hint that she has blood ties with Roland - the legendary father of the undead.  However, a standoff with a necromancer at the end of the book suggests that her actual father was much more powerful than Roland.  And much older.  It explains why she destroys any traces of her blood left behind with fire and why she never allows Nataraja (the vampire leader) to force her to show her full power.  Unfortunately, the nature of Kate's ancestry isn't explored any further in this book.

I found this book to be an easy read and I liked how the author left some things to the imagination (like Kate's history) and is gradually doling it out in small doses.  Since I read a lot, there are times that I'm able to guess the storyline before it happens - which can ruin surprise endings if I have it figured out well in advance.  I did like how Crest was painted poorly and ended up innocent in the end; I had him pegged as suspicious from the moment he met Kate, so I was surprised that I was wrong.

I love new angles to old stories, so I'm excited to see how this pans out.  The next book in the series is Magic Burns, but I'm not sure if I'll read that one next or another one.  I downloaded some cool new books on to my Kobo that I'm really excited about, so right now it's a case of not being able to choose which story to read.  For the sake of continuity, I may read the next one, but we'll see.

Kobo, Continued

So, I have my Kobo now, and I feel like I've used it often enough to make a decision.

I love it!

The screen was larger than I had thought - I could have just taken out a tape measure and figured out the size sooner, but where's the fun in that?! - and I also find it very readable.  The screen width is skinnier than the page of a paperback so I find I'm constantly "flipping" the page - but that just makes it seem like I'm reading faster than I am.  I like the fact that you can adjust the font size, and that there are 2 fonts to choose from.  I was brushing my teeth one night and changed the font size so I could read the chapter while the Kobo was resting on the counter.  What?  It was a good story!

The Kobo desktop application uploaded immediately once the Kobo device was plugged into my computer via USB, which meant no CD's or websites to find before using.  The only instructions were a 4 panel fold out showing what the buttons meant, even though there are labels on the eReader.  100 classic stories were included on the device, including Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and many other stories that I already owned.  On the plus side, many stories were included that I had just never gotten around to buying, so you can imagine my excitement when I found it on there!   And you'll have to, because I'm not uploading a video of me re-enacting it.

I also found that my Kobo was thinner and lighter than most books, so it really does fit well in my purse.  I loved being able to eat and read at the same time, without having to find creative ways to keep my book open while still using both hands to eat.  It's an art, really.

The website, so far, is easy to navigate: the home page highlights the newest releases and top 50 downloads, as well as categories (which then break down in to subcategories).  There's even a Free eBooks page!  Which, by the way, you don't need a Kobo to read them: you can use your computer!  The Kobo that I refer to is just the eReader, which allows me to read my books on a smaller scale than my computer.

Downside?  It's hard reading only one story at a time!  With so many options to choose from, it's difficult to start a book and keep at it.  Another downside is that if I want to read one of my hardcopy books (I'm pretty sure I made that phrase up, but it means a real book) I'll have to remember to bring it with me.  And once I start downloading more and more books, it may be more difficult to remember which books I have in which format.  I am a little worried about the potential for computer failure and losing all my stories, but a good friend of mine has suggested using a USB key or external hard drive for backup.  And it makes sense.

I am still learning to use my device and haven't figured out any more of the perks/cons of it, or even if I do love it more than a real book.  So please don't egg my house in the middle of the night because of it!   Oh, and if you are interested in buying a REAL book, stop by my favourite book store: I'm sure they wouldn't mind siding with you against me for my sacrilegious use of an eReader.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

This story requires little introduction; however, you'll get one anyway.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was written in 1865 by Reverend Charles Dodgson, under the pen name Lewis Carroll.  This story can be read on different levels - ranging from innocent child's story to a story written by a pervert with a drug problem who likes little girls too much.  Some common FAQ's about the story can be found here, as well as some alternate explanations here.  So I don't have to do it, a synopsis can be found here.

It had been a while since I'd last read it so I thought the story was incredibly confusing, as well as fun and nonsensical; fortunately, that seems to have been the author's intent.  The writing was interesting with play on words running rampant, enabling a change of subject or change of context to what was being said.  It seemed like just when I started making sense of the story, it would change again - out of the blue!  Even the ending was abrupt: a deck of cards flying in Alice's face wakes her. 

Earlier in the year I read The Looking Glass Wars, so I was finally able to contrast the real story with the spin-off.  (Which I had meant to do shortly after I finished the book, I promise!).  And just for fun, here's a link to the Johnny Depp movie (you're welcome). 

Due to when the story was written, I know that there are social and/or political nuances that I've missed.  Despite that, I really enjoyed the story and will be reading the sequel, Through the Looking Glass soon.  Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is on the Banned Book Club list of potential stories to read, so if chosen, I'll be one up on the others!

Wicked Lovely

Wicked Lovely, written by Melissa Marr, is Book 1 in a Young Adult series by the same name.  It starred Aislinn, a normal teenager...who just so happened to see faeries, much to her chagrin.

Aided by Seth, her buddy-turned-boyfriend, Aislinn strives to figure out why faeries are suddenly paying attention to her.  Eavesdropping on faeries who believed themselves invisible, Aislinn discovers that the gorgeous guy following her around is the Summer King, Keenan, who believes Aislinn to be his missing Queen.  An unexpected friendship with Donia, the Winter Girl and also the last woman who tested to be the Summer Queen, enables Aislinn to understand that her mortality was surrendered when Keenan chose her.  And this would have worked out fine if it weren't for Beira, Keenan's mother, the Winter Queen.  Beira actively working to prevent Keenan from testing Aislinn actually helped convince Keenan and Donia that Aislinn was the Queen.

This was a cute story and the first one that I read on my new Kobo.  One of my good friends is an avid reader of Melissa Marr's work, which is one of the reasons why I chose this story.  I found Aislinn to be a great character and easy to relate to - even her relationship with Seth was delayed because she didn't want to be another notch on his bedpost.  This book did hint at sex between Seth and Aislinn, but it was a decision that wasn't taken lightly by either parties.  I found Aislinn to be a fair person who didn't let her prejudices against the faeries prevent her from helping them, despite the fact that she was totally screwed over by them.  She was also strong enough to demand the right to live her life as she sees fit.

I loved Seth.  He was patient with Aislinn as she discovered the potential between them.  He was also strong, and self-assured, enough to love Aislinn in her new role as Queen.  Keenan was annoying, whiny, and too pushy at first.  He did end up growing on me, but I still thought of him as a little pathetic; however I'm definitely happy with the way the book ended.  It was a happily ever after for everyone involved, I thought.

I also liked Ms. Marr's take on faeries and how they live in the modern world, but that they're invisible.  It makes it interesting to think that they live among us, only unseen.  It was also interesting to see how the author separated the courts into Summer, Winter, Dark and High Courts. I'm hoping that the next books will show the differences between the courts and how they interact.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series: Ink Exchange.

Magic in the Storm

It seems like I'm ripping through these books, but the truth is that I read some of them and just waited a few days before posting.  But I am finally caught up in the Allie Beckstrom series.  And wow, did it ever end in a cliff hanger!

The magic in Portland is being drained and a wild storm is approaching.  The Alliance is split into different factions and Terric, Shame's possible Soul Complement, has returned to help save the city.  Allie is called away to hound a scene involving one of her Hounds and at the hospital learns that Greyson has escaped.  Chase and Shame go to hunt Greyson while Zayvion goes to Allie to protect her on the off-chance that Greyson has found her there.  When they arrive to help Shame and Chase, they learn that Shame has been attacked by Chase.  Enlisting the help of Terric, they attempt to locate her.  In the process, Shame is manipulated by Chase to attack Allie and Zayvion takes a big hit, with his soul being sucked in to a gate.  Terric and Shame, both injured, help Allie to keep Zayvion's body alive.

When Allie wakes up the next day, magic is gone.  She learns that her step-mother's house has been ransacked for secret technology: disks that hold magic.  She also learns that the Authority is behind it.  Finally, there's a meeting in the park in St. Johns and Allie is ordered to ground the wild magic to the disks.  And that's when all hell breaks loose.

Chase and Greyson crash the party, splitting the Alliance down the middle.  With the help of Jingo Jingo (a death magic master), Greyson opens a solid gate and the only thing holding back the Hungers is the spirit of Cody.  Allie's dad convinces Allie to rescue Cody and that Allie's mom, of all people, will protect him.  Somehow, through the part of him still attached to Greyson, Allie's dad was able to talk to Allie's mom to strike a bargain.  Anyhow, Allie also learns that by closing the gate, Zayvion will be permanently stuck and will consequently die.  So, what does she do?  She goes in.  Of course.

Umm, yeah.  She has the same reckless attitude and she's still being manipulated by her dad, but at least her heart is in the right spot, even if her head isn't.  So, needless to say, I will be reading the next book, even if it's just to see what happens next.  Sometimes I really hate reading series.

Kobo

Have you ever heard of Kobo?  Or how about Kindle?  These little gadgets are eReaders and they work a like an iPod - only for books.  You download a book to your computer and then upload it onto your eReader.  With differing storage sizes, you can carry up to 1000 books - on a device that is about the size of a (skinny) paperback novel!

And I'm getting one!  I've ordered the Kobo eReader (read specs: here) and it should arrive in about a week.  Soo excited!

One of my reasons for ordering it is that I simply have too many books.  I have 3 book shelves crammed with them (granted, one does contain textbooks) and many of the books that I buy are just to try them out.  In a house where bookshelf space is at a premium, I should be reserving those hot spots for my favourites, not just handing them out to whatever fits.

Another reason is because I like to read several books at once, depending on what I'm in the mood for.  And now I can carry hundreds of books at once, while taking up much less space in my purse.  This is really going to help when I go travelling, especially since hardcovers take up way more space than paperbacks.

Another perk: getting new release novels up to 50% less than what you'd be paying in-store.  Also, there is more privacy offered when you buy a book online.  I get razzed at work when I buy a romance novel, so if I was interested in something more exotic, I can buy it and no one else would know.

I have a hard time getting rid of books once I've bought them.  I usually buy them for a reason, so why would I get rid of it?  Well, with an eReader, the story would only use up storage space, and if I only paid $3 (or less!) for a mediocre story, I wouldn't hesitate to delete it.

One of my cons for buying an eReader was that I was worried it would read like a computer screen.  And I hate reading off of a computer screen.  Having done it for many years during University (and again in College), it just reminds me of doing research.  But, since this little device isn't as wide as my computer screen, I'm hoping that it'll be easy to read. 

Another con was that when I browse books, I honestly judge them by their cover.  If it looks interesting, I pick it up and read the synopsis.  If it intrigues me, I buy it.  Simple as that.  However, if I'm browsing books online, I'm worried that I'll be missing out on some great stories simply because they aren't on that page.  Or maybe I don't have the patience. Or that I'm simply looking for something specific.  Or that there are too many choices.

After weighing the pros and cons, I decided to get one.  The more I thought about it, the more sense it made.  Like I said, I read a lot and despite an initial price of $150 (plus tax), I think that in the long run it'll allow me more freedom buying books and not having to worry about storing them.  I can keep up with some of my series that are just taking up space at a lower price. 

Don't get me wrong, I'll still buy books at my favourite book store!  I'll just be more picky about the books I buy.  And I'll think of them more as an investment, instead of a passing fling or fad.

PS - Did you notice Kobo is just "book" rearranged?

Magic in the Shadows

Magic in the Shadows is book 3 in the Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk.  This time around, Allie is dealing with spirit of her dead father taking up residence in her head.  Nola, her best friend in the whole wide world, is also staying at Allie's place while she deals with the custody battle surrounding Cody.  And Zayvion?  He's helping Allie cope with the stresses and training involved with the Alliance, because if the Alliance decides that Allie is too unstable, they will Close off her magic, and memories, of anything to do with the Alliance, including Zayvion.

And Allie is definitely unpredictable.  Using tricks that she learned from her father, the Alliance is scared of her.  However, despite the fact that she opened a gate in a highly warded area, they need Allie and decide to keep her around (memories intact).  This has some of Allie's new found friends pleased (Shamus, Zayvion's best friend, and Maeve, Allie's teacher and Shame's mother) while pissing off others (namely Chase, Zayvion's ex-girlfriend and possible soul complement to Greyson, the fellow who killed Allie's dad and was also the necromorph running around town killing things and setting the Hungers free).  Did I mention that Allie animated a gargoyle that now lives with her and likes to talk to her sink?

Yeah, Allie's life does sound like a rather ludicrous soap opera, hey?  And it sort of reads as one, since Allie acts like a girl who has something to prove.  The Alliance is afraid of her because she holds the power of light and dark, on a scale that may be greater than Zayvion's (who is a Guardian of the Gates), but Allie is almost too stubborn to take the training properly, making her dangerous since she has a hard time controlling her magic.  Now that they are recognized Soul Complements (magic users who, on top of being able to use their magic in such a way to enhance the other's powers, are also able to touch each other's minds in the process - a technique that is rare and has the tendency to drive the couple involved insane) they are even more dangerous.  And Allie can't even take that seriously.

The storyline is interesting.  Some of the people are interesting.  But the rest of the time they're angsty and read like teenagers.  I keep thinking that they're around my age, but they're not (I think they're in their early 20s?) and that makes a world of difference.  And the main thing that annoys me, is that when Allie is thinking sex, she can't keep her head in the game.

I'm hoping that now that Allie is taking self-defense training and magic training that it'll make her a more capable character who won't rely on her tough girl attitude to bluff her way through situations.  I just hope she doesn't turn in to a character with superhero abilities.

I've already started book 4, Magic in the Storm, so I hope that I'm not getting in to things that haven't started since the end of book 3.

The Running Man

Now that I finished The Satanic Verses, I have TONS of time to read other books!  Plus, I'm currently on vacation, so I hope to get heaps of extra reading done.  If I'm going to spend money for the books, I might as well read them, right?!

The Running Man is a novel by Stephen King, written during his Richard Bachman phase.  Made into a movie in the late 1980's, it is loosely based on the novel.  By loosely, I mean that it involves running from people trying to kill Ben Richards.  And that's it.

In this dystopian novel, set into the not-so distant future (2025!), the social gap has been split even further.  The rich are still living the high life, but the less fortunate are so poor that in order to make money they vie to be contestants in game shows that may cause injury or even death.  Ben Richards, the novel's hero, is a 28 year old man who is desperate to keep his wife from making money "on her back" to pay for the medicine that their 18 month old daughter needs to treat her influenza.  In a last ditch effort to provide for his family, Ben goes through the extensive physical and mental testing required by the game show corporation and ends up on the highly acclaimed, and highly paying, Running Man show.

In this game, the contestant runs for his life: for every hour he survives, he earns $100 and for every hunter he kills, he gets $100.  On the flip side, the public is encouraged to help the hunters find the contestant: for a reported sighting, the person gets $100 and for a sighting ending in a kill, the person gets $500 and if the contestant makes it 30 days, he'll receive $1,000,000.  However, the longest record for survival is only 8 days.

Ben's plan of attack is to stay low; using his first 12 hour head start, he attains a fake ID to fly to New York.  Convinced that his mandatory twice daily tapes to the studio are being traced, he buses to Boston and stays in a run-down hostel.  Bored and watching cars, he realizes that the men outside the window are hitmen; to solve this problem, Ben sneaks in to the basement and blows up the hostel on top of him.  On the other end of the sewer, he meets a kid by the name of Stacey and his older brother, Bradley. 

Turns out, Bradley is an educated gang member who enlightens Ben on the issues of the poor air quality.  In his videos, Ben attempts to address this problem, but the games corporation does its own form of censorship: voice overs to increase hostility towards Ben.  Bradley helps Ben by smuggling him through road blocks and sending him to meet his contact: Elton.  Unfortunately, Elton's mother tips off the hunters, resulting in a car chase. 

Separating, Ben ends up in a small town and he hijacks a car driven by an upper class woman named Amelia.  Bluffing his way through a few road blocks, he demands a jet and for the head hunter, McCone, to join him onboard.  While on board, Ben is offered the job of head hunter by the head of the games corporation, Killian.  When Ben refuses, he learns that his wife and daughter were murdered at the start of the show.  In a fit of madness (or perhaps clarity) Ben kills everyone on board and crashes the jet in to the building of the games corporation.

I really liked the concept of this book: running for your life and money.  I honestly believe that reality tv will end up this way in a few years (hopefully decades).  I mean, look at UFC!  Sure, that isn't to the death, but it could end up that way eventually.  For example, Roman gladiators and hangings of the past were for the entertainment of the public.  However, I didn't really care for the personality of Ben Richards - who was too cynical and too quick to flip off everyone. 

Having read books by Stephen King in the past, I figured that there was a 50/50 chance of Ben surviving this show.  However, I didn't like the ending: sure, the building was destroyed, but who did that benefit?  Definitely not Ben or his family; and he sure didn't help out the poor by breaking the news of the poor air pollution and nose filters.  Essentially, he destroyed the building out of spite.

So, honestly?  If you like dystopia, you might like this book.  If you've watched the movie, you may get a kick out of the book to see the differences.  Otherwise, I don't know if you'd like it.  The language is racist and coarse, the hero really isn't a hero and some scenes are unnecessarily graphic (which is typical of Stephen King).